Sixers giving Sims extended looks at center

Henry Sims looks on from the bench during the first half of a game against the Mavericks last week. Acquired from the Cavaliers in the Spencer Hawes trade, Sims has been getting some extended playing time at center. (Associated Press)

Sims had been with the Sixers for fewer than five days and had gone through only three practices with the team, so his knowledge of Brown’s playbook was limited. When your hands are tied, like Brown’s are these days, you’ll consider just about anything.

The 6-10, 248-pound Sims scored a career-best 10 points and pulled down six rebounds in the Sixers’ loss to Orlando, their 12th straight defeat and their 22nd in 25 games. Sims got an extended look on the floor, being paired with Thaddeus Young and Arnett Moultrie, and getting the majority of his 24 minutes with the starters.

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“He’s competitive. There’s a little bit of a nasty streak in there. There’s a quiet tenacity,” Brown said of Sims, who was acquired by the Sixers from Cleveland at last week’s trade deadline. “There’s a physical side of him that he’s not afraid to go hit somebody. And that can overcompensate for whatever athletically he might miss at times with the matchup.

“I think that those things stand out. Some of it is we don’t have anything like that, so you’re attracted to that. The other part is he has something to offer to this group. For the first time, we have a more balanced starting five.”

There are similarities in the skill sets of recently jettisoned Spencer Hawes and new guy Byron Mullens. The 7-footers are more apt to step out and jack jumpshots than bang around the low block. Sims is the only center the Sixers have had this season, outside of perhaps Dewayne Dedmon, who was here on a pair of 10-day deals, whose game actually revolves around scoring at or near the rim.

“He’s a big body, and he’s a live body,” Brown said. “We’ve got to just get him in shape.”

On that topic, Sims has never played 43 or more minutes in a two-game span at this level. His start Wednesday was the first of his NBA career.

“He admitted candidly to one of our assistant coaches that he hasn’t played this many minutes in a long time,” Brown said. “He might even have said (since playing at) Georgetown.”

•••

His team trailing by 11, with only 45.9 seconds keeping the game from going official, Brown signaled for a timeout.

Really?

Really.

In this season, one in which learning trumps everything, Brown wanted to draw up a play.

“I respect those things, what you’re talking about in a timeout or calling a random timeout, to see what’s going on these young guys’ heads,” Brown said.

•••

There was a point in the third quarter when Tony Wroten failed to run out on Orlando’s Tobias Harris on a 16-footer from the baseline. Harris took the shot, made it, and Wroten still was six feet away.

Brown said he’d like to see more defensive effort out of Wroten.

The problem with Wroten’s defense, according to Brown, is that the 6-6 guard likely has always used his size advantage to disrupt passing lanes and come away with steals.

“He just beasted everybody,” Brown said. “He just waddled through whatever he did in high school and AAU.”

But in his second year in the NBA, Wroten needs to take as much pride in his defensive game as he does at the other end of the floor, where he’s averaging 13.0 points and 2.9 assists per game.

“I don’t see him having that foundation, and it’s up to me to create that,” Brown said. “I feel a great responsibility to do my job and give him that. He’s only 20 years old.

“I told Tony Wroten today, ‘You’ve been AAU, and that’s not a good thing.’”

NOTE: The Sixers (15-43) did not practice Thursday. They’ll hit the PCOM floor Friday, in preparation for Saturday’s game against visiting Washington. At that game, Allen Iverson’s jersey number will be retired. Tickets still remain.